Read Online Shadow World by A. C. Crispin, Jannean Elliot - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: A. C. Crispin, Jannean Elliot
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ago when a Heeyoon shuttle was forced to make an emergency landing on Elseemar, we Elspind have been examining our traditions and beliefs. The first 50
decision the WirElspind made was the day the Heeyoon landed. The aliens offered to leave, at the risk of their lives, rather than encounter our culture, but our leaders said no. Instead, Elseemar welcomed them."
"The Heeyoon offer was made in accordance with standard procedure for CLS-member worlds," Mark said. "Why did your people decide to welcome them?"
"Many reasons," Eerin said. "Foremost among them, I believe, was curiosity.
Elspind are a curious people. We like to learn."
No kidding, Mark thought, remembering their day together.
"Now the CLS cultural team has been on Elseemar for seven of your years,"
Eerin was continuing. "While they live, in many ways, as simply as any Elpind, they have shown us many wonders. Images of worlds beyond our own, glimpses of machines and devices that can replace our own labor in the fields, of new philosophies and ideas. Most Elspind are eager to learn new ways, but some feel threatened. They fear new ideas will push away the old."
"What do you think?"
"Hin sits on the ruling council, the WirElspind. It is hin's duty to investigate the new possibilities and help hin's people make wise choices," Eerin said evasively.
Mark's first impulse was to press for more details, but his training cautioned him to go slow. Besides, a great wave of sleepiness suddenly washed through him. Later, he thought. There will be time to learn all about each other. That's what a pair project is all about.
"That's a heavy responsibility," he said aloud. "I know this trip is part of your investigation, and I'm honored to be involved. I hope I can help you learn what you need to discover." He leaned back on the couch, unobtrusively easing his shoes off with a sigh.
"When can hin see the rest of the school?" Eerin asked. The Elpind had asked so many questions that they'd only covered two of the domes and part of the underground facilities.
"We'll have some free time tomorrow after our first training session," Mark replied. "There are a lot of people eager to meet and talk with you, and many activities you might like to try." The last words of his speech were half swallowed by a
51
massive yawn that erupted before he could stifle it.
It didn't seem possible that the Elpind's eyes could grow any rounder--but it certainly appeared as though they did.
"What was that?" Eerin asked, ignoring Mark's response and pointing at his mouth.
"Uh ... we call it a 'yawn.' " Mark gave the last word in English. "Humans yawn when they need to sleep. And I'm really beat--uh--tired. Sleep's going to feel great tonight."
"Sleep," Eerin repeated thoughtfully. "Yes, hin heard of that, but hin has not had the opportunity to study it closely." The Elpind examined Mark's reclining form with avid curiosity. "How long will Mark do this sleeping activity?"
"What?" Mark sat back up. "Are you trying to tell me you don't sleep? That Elspind don't sleep?"
"Correct." The alien considered a moment and then offered, "No, not fully correct. There are rare times in the lifecycle when Elspind require inanimate rest to store energy. At those few times, we sleep, but only then."
"As much energy as you put out during the day"--Mark was remembering the pace Eerin had set during their tour-- "I'd think you'd need to store energy every night. Don't you get tired?"
"If hin is tired, hin thinks quietly or hin eats. Food creates energy, of course, and so do hin's thoughts."
"I am eager to learn more," Mark said. It was, he'd discovered, the polite Elpind response when a speaker introduced new information. "But I would like to learn it in the morning. Humans don't learn well when they are tired.
We must sleep every night." Remembering Eerin's earlier words, he asked awkwardly, "Uh, did you really mean you would like to observe someone sleeping?"
Eerin nodded eagerly.
"Well then, I'll sleep
decision the WirElspind made was the day the Heeyoon landed. The aliens offered to leave, at the risk of their lives, rather than encounter our culture, but our leaders said no. Instead, Elseemar welcomed them."
"The Heeyoon offer was made in accordance with standard procedure for CLS-member worlds," Mark said. "Why did your people decide to welcome them?"
"Many reasons," Eerin said. "Foremost among them, I believe, was curiosity.
Elspind are a curious people. We like to learn."
No kidding, Mark thought, remembering their day together.
"Now the CLS cultural team has been on Elseemar for seven of your years,"
Eerin was continuing. "While they live, in many ways, as simply as any Elpind, they have shown us many wonders. Images of worlds beyond our own, glimpses of machines and devices that can replace our own labor in the fields, of new philosophies and ideas. Most Elspind are eager to learn new ways, but some feel threatened. They fear new ideas will push away the old."
"What do you think?"
"Hin sits on the ruling council, the WirElspind. It is hin's duty to investigate the new possibilities and help hin's people make wise choices," Eerin said evasively.
Mark's first impulse was to press for more details, but his training cautioned him to go slow. Besides, a great wave of sleepiness suddenly washed through him. Later, he thought. There will be time to learn all about each other. That's what a pair project is all about.
"That's a heavy responsibility," he said aloud. "I know this trip is part of your investigation, and I'm honored to be involved. I hope I can help you learn what you need to discover." He leaned back on the couch, unobtrusively easing his shoes off with a sigh.
"When can hin see the rest of the school?" Eerin asked. The Elpind had asked so many questions that they'd only covered two of the domes and part of the underground facilities.
"We'll have some free time tomorrow after our first training session," Mark replied. "There are a lot of people eager to meet and talk with you, and many activities you might like to try." The last words of his speech were half swallowed by a
51
massive yawn that erupted before he could stifle it.
It didn't seem possible that the Elpind's eyes could grow any rounder--but it certainly appeared as though they did.
"What was that?" Eerin asked, ignoring Mark's response and pointing at his mouth.
"Uh ... we call it a 'yawn.' " Mark gave the last word in English. "Humans yawn when they need to sleep. And I'm really beat--uh--tired. Sleep's going to feel great tonight."
"Sleep," Eerin repeated thoughtfully. "Yes, hin heard of that, but hin has not had the opportunity to study it closely." The Elpind examined Mark's reclining form with avid curiosity. "How long will Mark do this sleeping activity?"
"What?" Mark sat back up. "Are you trying to tell me you don't sleep? That Elspind don't sleep?"
"Correct." The alien considered a moment and then offered, "No, not fully correct. There are rare times in the lifecycle when Elspind require inanimate rest to store energy. At those few times, we sleep, but only then."
"As much energy as you put out during the day"--Mark was remembering the pace Eerin had set during their tour-- "I'd think you'd need to store energy every night. Don't you get tired?"
"If hin is tired, hin thinks quietly or hin eats. Food creates energy, of course, and so do hin's thoughts."
"I am eager to learn more," Mark said. It was, he'd discovered, the polite Elpind response when a speaker introduced new information. "But I would like to learn it in the morning. Humans don't learn well when they are tired.
We must sleep every night." Remembering Eerin's earlier words, he asked awkwardly, "Uh, did you really mean you would like to observe someone sleeping?"
Eerin nodded eagerly.
"Well then, I'll sleep
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